EABL FOUNDATION FUNDS CONSTRUCTION OF OPTICAL CENTRE IN MOSHI
30th August 2006…The EABL Foundation today announced a donation of Tsh 88m to fund the construction of an optical centre within the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre at Moshi. This will be the first optical centre for the area.

It is estimated that in Tanzania there are xx people that are blind from cataracts, these people could have their sight restored by the removal of the cataracts, through a simple operation


The EABL Foundation Optical Centre will be the only medical clinic in the area that will provide dedicated medical assistance and surgery for eye problems.  The clinic will serve the public of Moshi and Arusha and more than 10,000 people are expected to benefit.


At today’s groundbreaking ceremony, Mr Ken Kariuki, the EABL Director of Corporate Affairs, said that the EABL Foundation Optical centre will offer hope and a new way of life to many people that suffer from blindness or partial blindness.


“Through simple medical assistance and operations, sight will be restored for many people and they will be able to return to their work and care for the families again.  We believe that the optical centre will have a major impact on the communities of Northern Tanzania”, said Mr Kariuki.


Construction of the centre will begin in September and it is expected to be completed by end 2007. Once the centre is operational it is expected that xx people will visit the centre daily.


Prof. Shao, the Director of the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, thanked the EABL Foundation for funding the construction of the centre. 


“On behalf of the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre and the communities of Arusha and Moshi, I would like to thank the EABL Foundation for their funding to build the optical centre.  This centre will have an enormous impact on the local communities, we have not had an optical or any eye clinic in the region and many eye conditions have led to blindness because of the lack of such a centre. I am pleased to say that from today, this will change.  Once the centre is constructed we will be able to perform eye surgeries and operations that will restore sight and restore lives. The EABL Foundation Optical centre will transform lives. Once again thank you for your donation of Tsh 88m and we look forward to when we can open the centre”, said Shao.